Student Success Center
M.S. in Engineering, Sustainability and Health
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Welcome!
As an online student, most of your interactions with the university will be done through various websites. For example:
- You’ll use your USD Email Address for all university-related communications.
- You’ll use Blackboard for all of your coursework and assignments.
- You’ll use your MySanDiego Portal for tuition payments and to access most campus resources.
- You’ll use this site, your Student Success Center, to get specific information about textbook information, deadlines, and more!
(619) 202-3752
C0MPLETE YOUR MANDATORY NEW STUDENT CHECKLIST
Our number one priority is you! Our team has prepared a checklist of items that will set you up for success and clarify all action items as a new student. After you have enrolled for your first term, please complete and review all of the following before classes start.
1. View Your Mandatory New Student Welcome Webinar
This webinar will go over a comprehensive look at your program and what to expect as an online learner including resources and tips for success. Each webinar should last around 30-40 minutes. Please RSVP for your Welcome Webinar as soon as possible.
2. Schedule Your New Student Check-in Call
In this call, you’ll “meet” a member of your Student Success Team for your program. Once you attend the welcome webinar, you will be given the link to schedule your new student check-in call. This will be a chance for us to answer any additional questions you have before you start your first term. Please be sure to have any Blackboard-related, program-related, or finance-related questions prepared.
3. Complete Your Blackboard Orientation Course – Due January 6, 2023
Once you have been registered in your classes, you will be able to access your New Student Orientation Course on Blackboard within 24 hours. When accessing Blackboard, please make sure to use Firefox or Chrome as your browser.
The New Student Orientation course is designed to help you navigate your way around Blackboard prior to beginning your first class. You will learn where to find the syllabus, course schedule, assignments, and the discussion board.
Your Orientation is mandatory, and must be completed before the first day of class—so we encourage you to get started! Please plan to spend about 6-8 hours completing the Orientation course. You can move through the Orientation at your own pace, so schedule your time accordingly.
Looking for assistance? View the guide for navigating your Blackboard Orientation course.
4. Finalize Your Tuition Payment Plan
We recommend that students start this planning early as some funding sources can take some time to process. Tuition payments should be completed in full by the first day of the semester. Visit the “Tuition & Payment Methods” section for more information.
5. Review your Student Handbook
Please make sure to review your student handbook prior to the first day of class, and reference it as needed throughout your program. The handbook is where you can find information on academic expectations, drop and refund policy, technology requirements, curriculum, frequently asked questions, and more.
IMPORTANT DATES
Below is a list of significant dates regarding the registration process, payment deadlines, and other important academic and program deadlines.
Summer 2023 Dates & Deadlines
| Important Dates | Date |
|---|---|
| Application Deadline | April 10, 2023 |
| Registration Opens | March 6, 2023 |
| Registration Deadline | April 21, 2023 |
| Orientation Course Due Date | May 5, 2023 |
| Last Day to Drop with 100% Refund | May 8, 2023 |
| Payment Due Date | May 9, 2023 |
| Semester Begins | May 9, 2023 |
| First Course Start Date | May 9, 2023 |
| Last Day to Drop with 95% Refund/ Drop Deadline | May 12, 2023 |
| Last Day to Withdraw from Course A | June 5, 2023 |
| First Course End Date | June 26, 2023 |
| Second Course Start Date | June 27, 2023 |
| First Course Final Grade Submission Due Date | July 11, 2023 |
| Last Day to Withdraw from Course B | July 24, 2023 |
| Second Course End Date | August 14, 2023 |
| Semester Ends | August 14, 2023 |
| Second Course Final Grade Submission Due Date | August 28, 2023 |
Fall 2022 Dates & Deadlines
| Important Dates | Date |
|---|---|
| Registration Opens | July 5, 2022 |
| Registration Deadline | August 15, 2022 |
| Financial Aid Requirements | August 15, 2022 |
| Orientation Course Due Date | September 2, 2022 |
| Last Day to Drop with 100% Refund | September 5, 2022 |
| Payment Due Date | September 6, 2022 |
| Semester Begins | September 6, 2022 |
| First Course Start Date | September 6, 2022 |
| Last Day to Drop with 95% Refund/ Drop Deadline | September 9, 2022 |
| Last Day to Withdraw from Course A | October 3, 2022 |
| First Course End Date | October 24, 2022 |
| Second Course Start Date | October 25, 2022 |
| Last Day to Withdraw from Course B | November 21, 2022 |
| Second Course End Date | December 12, 2022 |
| Semester Ends | December 12, 2022 |
Spring 2023 Dates & Deadlines
| Important Dates | Date |
|---|---|
| Application Deadline | December 2, 2022 |
| Registration Opens | November 2, 2022 |
| Registration Deadline | December 16, 2022 |
| Orientation Course Due Date | January 6, 2023 |
| Last Day to Drop with 100% Refund | January 9, 2023 |
| Payment Due Date | January 10, 2023 |
| Semester Begins | January 10, 2023 |
| First Course Start Date | January 10, 2023 |
| Last Day to Drop with 95% Refund/ Drop Deadline | January 13, 2023 |
| Last Day to Withdraw from Course A | February 6, 2023 |
| First Course End Date | February 27, 2023 |
| First Course Final Grade Submission Due Date | March 13, 2023 |
| Second Course Start Date | February 28, 2023 |
| Last Day to Withdraw from Course B | March 27, 2023 |
| Second Course End Date | April 17, 2023 |
| Semester Ends | April 17, 2023 |
| Second Course Final Grade Submission Due Date | May 1, 2023 |
Download a pdf of your academic calendar
Class Registration Directions
You have most likely already filled out an Enrollment Agreement, which enables our team to register you for classes each term. No further action is required on your part.
If you are not able to register for both of your courses in a given term, please contact your program coordinator immediately. This often happens for students who need to take a leave of absence.
Textbook information
Students are required to have their textbooks on hand by the first day of class. Unless otherwise specified, students may select any vendor they prefer (such as Amazon.com, Half.com, Alibris.com, etc.) to purchase their course materials. In the event a specific vendor is required, it will be specified in the course materials list. The best way to ensure that you have the correct book is to search by the ISBN number(s) listed on the book list.
Physical copies of books are not on hand at the USD Torero Store. The USD Torero online store does offer price comparisons for different online vendors for some books.
Although all textbooks for all courses are listed, students only need to purchase the items for the classes they are taking for the semester.
Digital Inclusive Access (IA) – Integrated VitalSource Textbooks
If your course is indicated to have a “Digital Inclusive Access” textbook, you do have the option to use the integrated Vitalsource e-textbook without needing to purchase a textbook through an outside vendor. For more information, view the “Digital Inclusive Access” FAQs document.
- Students are able to access the e-textbook directly in the course without worrying about purchasing the wrong version or textbook!
- If your course is indicated as using “Digital Inclusive Access” on the textbook list, please note that you must opt-out within the first 4 days of each course to avoid being charged for the guaranteed-lowest price textbook.
- If you do intend to use “Digital Inclusive Access”, no further action is required after you create a Vitalsource account.
- No refunds can be issued once the textbook charge has been assessed.
PAYing for your program
Tuition at USD is billed per semester, not per course. Payment (or enrollment in an official USD payment plan) is always due by the first day of the semester. Students may not carry balances from one semester to the next.
Accounts with outstanding balances after the official payment due date may be subject to course cancellations/removal or a student account hold during the semester; related holds can prevent upcoming registration, graduation, or obtaining transcripts.
Remember: tuition is always due by the first day of each semester.
Program Tuition
Once you have been registered for your courses, your student account will reflect the appropriate tuition costs according to your program. Your program’s tuition is the following:
- Per Unit (classes are typically 3-units) = $925
- Per Semester (assuming 6-units per semester) = $5,550
- Total Program Cost (including 5 semesters) = $27,750
Students who need to re-take or withdraw from a course may need to pay additional fees according to the Refund/Drop Deadline policies listed in your Student Handbook.
If you have any questions about your Student Account, please reach out to the One Stop Center via email at onestop@sandiego.edu or phone at 619-260-2700. All costs and fees are subject to change and are based on the academic year of enrollment.
DEGREE PROGRESS & COMMENCEMENT
DegreeWorks
You can track your progress toward earning your degree using the Degree Works feature in your MySanDiego student portal. Degree Works shows you which courses you have completed, grades, cumulative GPA, any outstanding graduation requirements, and more!
To access Degree Works:
- Log in to your MySanDiego student portal.
- Under the “Torero Hub” tab, click on “My Academics.”
- On the right-hand side under “My Academic Resources”, click on “Degree Works.”
Petition to Graduate
Submitting your petition to graduate is a requirement for every student. About a semester before your final term, you will be reminded by your Program Coordinator to submit your petition to graduate. Once completed, your Academic Coordinator will review your academic record and contact you if there are any outstanding requirements or issues.
Commencement and Diploma Details
If you are planning on participating in the commencement ceremony (which means walking in your cap and gown here on campus), you will be invited to come to the University of San Diego in the month of May to participate in the ceremony. Commencement details and information will be sent from your Student Success Team around the month of February. Please note, there is only one commencement ceremony each academic year. Fall graduates will be invited to the commencement ceremony the May after they graduate, while Summer graduates will be invited to the commencement ceremony the May before they graduate.
The registrar will process their final audit of the degrees 6-8 weeks after grades are posted for your final semester. Once the degree is conferred in the system, the Registrar will order your diploma from the vendor and the vendor will send it to you directly to the address that was listed on your petition to graduate. Mailing time is an additional 6-8 weeks from the date of order, and you will likely receive your diploma in the mail in 3-4 months after you have completed your degree requirements. *Please note, if your mailing address changes after you submit your Petition to Graduate, please notify the Graduate Records office at (619) 260-2217 or usdgradrec@sandiego.edu.
Course Requirements
Completion of all the courses in the prescribed curriculum, of eight 3-unit courses and one 6-unit capstone course for a total of nine courses and 30 units, is required to successfully complete this program.
Course Titles and Descriptions
Engineering and the Health of the Planet (ESH 501)
Students will be introduced to MESH, and the complex adaptive systems that will be examined over the next few months in relation to engineering, health and sustainability. They will begin to develop or enhance their critical thinking skills and ability to question assumptions relating to contemporary practices and processes. Students will explore how changes to earth systems, facilitated or exacerbated by technological developments, affect human health, ecosystems, environmental justice and ethics, within political, economic and social systems. They will develop their sustainability design skills and apply critical lenses to a variety of engineering applications to consider potential negative human and ecosystem health impacts and possible ways to mitigate these. The course will be taught as a series of case studies within a wide range of engineering disciplines and draw where possible on areas specifically connected to the students’ own areas of interest and backgrounds.
Health and the Built Environment (ESH 502)
This course will critically examine the complex interplay of engineering, development, and changes to the built environment, and their impacts on population health from community to global levels. Students will employ transdisciplinary and complex systems approaches to better understand how changes to the built-environment can impact health outcomes, and thereby foster an awareness of the unintended outcomes of their work and the need for intentionality in planning, design and implementation of engineering projects. This course will also cultivate an appreciation of the important, but often overlooked, need to develop social infrastructure in tandem with the development of physical infrastructure.
Sustainable Food (ESH 510)
Sustaining food may be taken in two ways: food sustains us, but then we must produce, distribute and market food in ways which are equitable and sustainable. This course travels through the complex and interconnected world of engineering, health, sustainability and justice in relation to food. We examine questions of land, of traditions, of access. We look at sustainable food production and distribution from an engineering perspective, as well as through a justice lens. We explore food insecurity, food deserts, and food poverty and consider alternative practices which draw on both ancient and contemporary movements and traditions to re(introduce) sustainability and justice into our food production and access.
Sustainable Water (ESH 511)
This course will focus on sustainable access to clean water as a fundamental human right. We will explore water scarcity, water access, and engineering innovations in water supply, clean water, efficiency of distribution, as well as the impact of engineering on water access and water quality. Throughout the course, students will consider the interrelated aspects of engineering and water in relation to health, justice and sustainability. The course will adopt a case study approach and students will ‘visit’ multiple contexts and countries in order to explore the real-life implications of access to life-giving water.
Sustainable Energy (ESH 520)
This course is designed to have students understand the fundamental concepts of alternative energy systems. Students completing the course will have the skill sets required to analyze and design: 1) solar systems that use photovoltaics (PV); 2) small- and large-scale wind systems; 3) energy systems consisting of renewable generation and energy storage technologies; 4) smart grid technologies in transmission and distribution; and 5) building systems including lighting and HVAC. In addition, they will develop problem solving skills in sustainable energy and energy efficiency and explore future trends in energy systems to understand opportunities and obstacles present in the creation of sustainable energy technology ventures.
Getting to Zero Waste (ESH 521)
This course will explore all elements of the global waste problem from recycling and reusing to reducing consumption and production and the practicalities of getting to zero waste. Case studies will be explored in different parts of the world and new approaches to the ecological paradigm of moving from waste as a problem to ‘waste as a resource’.
Transitioning to Alternatives (ESH 530)
The ‘Just Transition’ framework is a unifying and place-based set of principles, processes, and practices that build economic and political power to shift from an extractive economy to a regenerative economy. This means approaching production and consumption cycles holistically and waste-free. This course will explore and critique the potential and promise of a transition to sustainable systems which are economically feasible and equitable. It will include the use of data to understand trends, impacts and to evaluate and predict the effects of interventions into the future.
Environmental Justice (ESH 531)
This course will examine the interconnection of industrial and infrastructure development and with environmental issues related to community health, social and environmental justice and human rights. We will explore the impact of unprecedented economic growth experienced by the Global North and which has induced a state of crisis for the Earth’s ecological systems and exacerbated injustices for the Global South, Indigenous and other marginalized communities.
Capstone Project (ESH 540)
Practicum: Participants will embark on a practicum in which they either develop a model and feasibility study or a significant change to their own or others practice and explore the impact of this change. This project will run throughout the entire program, and relate to all courses. They will be supported throughout the process with design tools and methodologies as well as sustainability tools including Cradle to Cradle, Life Cycle Analysis, Biomimicry (learning design from nature) etc. For professionals, the practicum will be based around their own work context. For participants who are not engaged in practice, practicums will be arranged (online or face to face at a location accessible to participants). The practicum project might include, but is not limited to a feasibility study for the development of a new interdisciplinary health/engineering process within an large engineering or health based organization; conducting a feasibility study and design of a locally appropriate interdisciplinary practice in a developing context; collaboration with a NGO/INGO to design training for engineers and healthcare and development professionals in local culture, health issues and human rights; design projects that identify and incorporate appropriate solutions for collaboration between engineers and health and development professionals.
Student Resources
This list is helpful resources that will set you up for success. Haven’t written in APA formatting since your undergraduate program? We’ve got you covered! Want to know what type of computer you will need? No problem. We have listed helpful resources below.
Technical Requirements
You must own or have unrestricted access to a computer for this program. A fast Internet connection is also mandatory.
Courses will utilize a variety of technologies and multimedia. To complete course activities and to access course content, please verify that you have the following technologies and plug-ins available:
- Browser Plug-ins – Windows Media Player, QuickTime, Shockwave, Adobe Reader, and Java.
- Mozilla Firefox is the recommended browser.
- Microsoft Office is required. If you are using Office 2003 or earlier, download and install the Microsoft Office Compatibility pack.
- Speakers or headset – to listen to multimedia.
- Webcam – for recording video.
- Email – To contact your faculty.
- High-speed internet connection strongly encouraged (DSL or better)
Graduate Writing Expectations and Tips
All writing assignments must be formatted according to APA standards. Discussion posts must contain the appropriate APA citations. If you want additional writing support, we recommend Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL@Purdue). In addition to general writing support, the website includes a special section dedicated to APA formatting guidelines.
Another helpful writing resource is the School of Leadership and Education Sciences (SOLES) Graduate Student Writing Center. Enrolled students can submit assignments for review by a writing professional.
Download Microsoft Office 365 (Free for USD Students)
Students at the University of San Diego are able to download Microsoft Office 365 for free! If you don’t have it already, you can download the Microsoft Office 365 suite using your USD student email.
TimelyCare – Telehealth for USD Students
TimelyCare is a provider of 24/7, no-cost telehealth services for USD students to address common conditions that can be safely diagnosed and treated remotely. TimelyCare services are available at no cost to the student. Services include:
- Live and on-demand self-care sessions (yoga, breathing, stretching)
- Access to on-demand counselors for emotional health support
- Access to schedule a session with a licensed counselor (up to 12 times per year)
MS-ESH Student Handbook
The handbook is where you can find information on academic expectations, drop and refund policy, technology requirements, curriculum, frequently asked questions, and more.
Student Code of Rights and Responsibilities for Graduate Students
It is the policy of the University of San Diego to adhere to the rules and regulations as announced in this brochure or other University Publications. The University nevertheless hereby gives notice that it reserves the right to expand or delete or otherwise modify this online publication whenever such changes are adjudged by it to be desirable or necessary. Changes will be made periodically as needed.
Blackboard (Bb) @ USD
In your program, you can think of Blackboard as your virtual tool to share information with professors and peers. You will use Blackboard to access your course content, find course syllabi, review your assignments, and more. Be sure to use your USD login credential to log in. If you have any difficulty logging into your course, be sure to contact ITS at (619) 260-7900 or help@sandiego.edu.
Netiquette Guidelines
The concept of netiquette covers proper communication online. Read our guidelines to help cultivate a supportive and productive online environment.
your partners toward success
At USD, you join a community of individuals who are all committed to one common goal: your success. As you familiarize yourself with your team, take the opportunity to virtually meet and connect with the resources available to you as a student. Click on the profiles below to learn more about each office or staff member and watch a brief video about their role in supporting you through graduation.
